Zhang Yi, who cut a figure in the 2006 world championships by pocketing junior gold of the 10-meter air rifle, missed the crown in Chinese City Games out of fatigue.

 

China pins hope on women's 10-meter air rifle at the Beijing Olympics, which might send the host country the first gold medal.

 

Zhang is currently ranked No. 4 in the discipline in national shooting squad. She is going to take part in qualifying matches next March for a ticket into the 2008 Olympics arena. "I would do much better then," she smiled shyly.

 

"I was just back from the World Cup Final earlier this October," said the 21-year-old sharpshooter from north China's Hebei Province. "And I practiced for only several hours before the competition."

 

With a good start of a record-equally 400 points in the qualification round, Zhang scored only half of the ten shots in the final above ten points, with her marks fluctuating seriously from 10.9 to 9.4. The total of 500.8 points pulled her to the third place.

 

At last session of the City Games, the unlucky girl was stopped in the qualification round due to an untimely fever.

 

Zhang admitted that she lost concentration a bit in the competition. "It was like finishing a task."

 

"She was not decisive while opening fire," said Li Dongqi, director of the Hebei Provincial Shooting Center.

 

Zhang was beaten by 23-year-old Yang Jing representing Yinchuan of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, who grabbed the gold medal with 502.6 points, followed by 19-year-old Xie Jieqiong from Jinan of Shandong Province with 501.3 points.

 

Wang Yifu, head coach of the national shooting team, was dissatisfied with their performances. "Their scores in the final are too low to guarantee a place for them in world events," he said. "Du Li would do much better."

 

Du, champion of the Athens Olympic Games, holds the world record with 504.9 points.

 

A tycoon in shooting events, China is strong in the discipline and stormed half of its gold medals at World Cup and World Championship competitions over the past three years. Du alone snatched one-third of the medals.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2007)